Leaderboard

Gawn, May, Jones, Brayshaw and Fritsch all in main group.

Enjoyed the session, but they started late - not sure why but suspect they did the Tan or some other drill as their warm-up was short before getting into a bit of kraft and then match sim. My BOG from the match sim was Jack Viney - in everything and was ultra impressive getting his hands free of two tacklers for the give to Fritter who nailed the goal. Not far behind was Steven May who took a couple of well-timed intercept pack marks. Based on what we saw, he will play this week down in Tassie. Gawn may play down in Tassie as well, although he isn't quite at full steam yet - sluggish off the mark in run throughs. But he still was fit enough to take Bradtke in match sim and he nailed a nice set shot from 50m and then followed up a bit later (not in match sim) by barrelling a torp from the centre square. By the way, Bradtke has really stepped up in the past few weeks. He's still got a long way to go, but there's finally some signs. Most of the session I spent idolising the exquisite skills of Harley, who was snagging everything in the rehab group. He's still months away from playing but previously he looked decades away. Also impressive in rehab was Jimmy Hannan who was nailing set shots from 60m out. He's champing at the bit to get back and must be super close to rejoining the main group along with Chandler. Petty was still being nursed along and sadly won't be playing anywhere round one. And given I had him as a Rd 1 cert, I'm afraid to say Joel Smith is also a week or two away from resuming. He's still kicking primarily with his left foot because of his right-foot cut and I wish someone had used this time on the side to show him how to ball-drop on the left-side. Back to match sim, Trac and Olly impressed as always and Lockhart looks the real deal back in defence now and Harmesy also is providing run from down back and set up a nice goal for his team because he kept moving. Jacko, Weid and Spargo were quiet, but Kossie did a couple of magical things laced with a couple of fumbles. Sauce got plenty of ball as did JJ, the latter of whom tried a 50m safe switch that only went 45m and was intercepted by Fritter. But Sauce, JJ, Dunkley (who was rehabbing) and maybe even Swallow are all looking way better than last year, the difference is that with so few injuries, they are going to have to be redhot in the magoos before they get a game. And of course with birthday boy Vanders back and Jones super keen to impress as a forward, there's just no room for development players at the moment. Hopefully someone else can report on Salem's whereabout - surely not watching a replay of Arsenal's FA Cup win!

We all saw the impact Viney had in the 2018 finals after missing most of the season. I have full confidence he'll get back to his best this year. He just needs to fix up his disposal and set shots on goal.

I went today and don't have time for a full report nor is it needed given the excellent coverage by others. I can only reiterate the comments on Harley who is fast becoming my favourite player. His skills are exquisite and today he thought he'd show off taking one hand marks - about 6 in a row. His kicking is fantastic, he never fumbles and his vision excellent. Fingers and toes crossed. The really good thing is he seems to be at peace with everything. He's clearly well liked and he's just following the instructions of the rehab staff to the letter. He's quiet but seems to be enjoying it. The only concern today was the non appearance of Salem and the injury to Lockhart. He went to tackle Vanders and immediately went off holding his arm. It was his bicep which was hurting, not a shoulder or elbow so hopefully it's just a corky. He was in everything in match sims and did the injury late. It may well be nothing. As reported Dunkley, Petty, Hannan, Smith, Preuss and Chandler made up rehab. Chandler is still protecting his wrist, Smith did some gentle kicking on his right at one stage but nothing serious, Preuss looks fit and ran without a bandage or limp but was wearing a protective shin guard but did no rucking, Hannan is looking good and Dunkley ran very well. May and Gawn did all the running and every drill so I expect them both to play Friday. It was a surprisingly long session today, about 2 hours and the standard was good and everyone was upbeat.

Harley Bennell warming up with the main group! He’s going at about half pace or just above in warm up sprints.

Bennell participating in the first ball drill with some short leads and kick to the next group then running to next cone.

Sounds like he has gotten through the 9/10 weeks of no running after surgery in a good way, and now can start running and light training. This is what we were told. All on track for the Harley.

Bennell has a laser right foot.

Skills refreshingly good in full ground drill. Gawn and May going well. Fritsch a standout forward. Lockhart hitting targets nicely.

People are really shook up by this Roar article. A fully fit Jack Viney is a gun. He’s done a full pre-season for the first time in years and was excellent against Adelaide in the one match we’ve played. A player like Viney in the midfield rotation is a strength of our list, not a liability.

HB told me at the family day he is going for round 3. He looked like he was serious. one of the most gifted players ever.

Me 'playing Friday Gawny?' Gawny 'yep, how did I look out there today?' Nuff said

Sure has. Brett Lovett.

Hey may well be one dimensional, but he's very bloody good at that dimension. The only thing he needs to learn is to sometimes not take possession of the ball. 9/10 he's being tackled before he gets the ball because the tackler is 100% sure he's going to take possession. He'll win 5 frees a game if he taps the ball to advantage occasionally, rather than take possession.

As far as kicking skills go, he isn't in the minority there (as far as our list is concerned). One-dimensional...........sure, but i'd rather that than a jack of all trades master of none type player (ANB). Maybe not a 'leader' in the traditional captain's sense, but he plays his heart out and will carry the team on his back if he has to. How long ago were we bemoaning the fact that we had no players' that actually gave a f#ck. He is one who absolutely does. Give me a fit Jack Viney over a team of lazy players' every day of the week, at least with Jack you know he's not gonna leave anything in the tank.

Gawn and May moving well as they finish the first ball drill.

If I was Sydney Stack I would be looking over my shoulder this season. He got a half fit Jack... I reckon Jack may have a long memory.

A healthy Jack Viney isn't slow. He'll have to do the occasional tagging role and even take a rotation through half forward at times but if he can play some consecutive games at full health no one will be saying he's slow.

I think he’s going to make people eat their words this year, I think he will look better in a better team and sometimes you actually need to have players that have roles that are clearly defined. He has had periods as a tagger as well as an inside mid so he has an option there, I think he could also be looked at in rotation roles for holding jobs on opposition HBF.

All six look like they’re running close to top speed in the sprint drills. Lots of them

Fixed

Ridiculous thread. Shut it down. A fit Jack Viney is in the best 22 in ANY side in the league. He is a tough mid who wins the footy and gets the footy. He bleeds red and blue. His disposal is ok but certainly not horrid. His toughness and leadership leaves many others in the dust.

It gets up my frock when the players we love to watch go through a bad patch and get slagged off here. Tmac Gus and Viney in particular. I wish more posters would hold their bottle and see a couple of real games before looking for problems. Every other team would love these players to be available.

First full pre season, possibly in the last 5 years at the Demons, so that will be a huge help. Disposal needs to improve, but when it comes to leadership and capability on field he stands up on the big occasions, finals in 2018, the WC win mentioned earlier in the thread and with broken foot still took Port apart in one quarter in 2017, plus the pressure from his tackling is immense! I can’t believe how much crap he cops on Demonland, carried significant injuries through last 4-5 years! Judge him in 2020 when he gets to complete a season fully fit! Go Jack, bleeds red & blue, and polls incredibly well in Melbourne B&F’s even when injured and missing games. Give him a break Demonlanders!

I recall that win we had against WC in Perrh back in 2017 when we were serverly undermanned with our on ball brigade and a gut busting effort from Jack Viney won us so much ball at the stoppages and around the ground through shear grunt work that kept us in the game until Pederson and T Mac's last quarter, last minute heroics finally got us over the line over there. I don't mind that kind of one dimensionalisim - just keep forging on forward. When he is fit, Jack is an absolute bull and particularly if we have a midfield of other fit bulls like Trac, Oliver, Brayshaw, AVB, Jones, Harems etc, there will be no stopping them.

This year we will know the answer.... Nowhere to hide. If he doesn’t cut it, then he will be dropped The 4 year plan must be adhered to, as a member i will not accept excuses anymore. Last year was it for me...

a snall forward a new name

A couw of thoughts from those clips. Firstly combined in less than 8 hours they have had over 1000 views. Given they are in no way notable, it shows the demand for video content. And quality is not a worry. Secondly the jackson v may clip shows msgs strength but also highlights how quick jackson is to recover. He will be tough match up up forward. If you don't out mark him and the ball hits the ground he is likely to get to it first.

That's fantastic and I hope it's realistic and not overly optimistic. I was at a function in Perth on Preliminary Final day and Jake Lever said he was aiming for a Round 1 return in 2019. He returned in Round 12.

Huge thanks to our track reporters ........ greatly appreciated by all Demonlanders, and even more so when they deliver [mostly] good news! ?

Harley now jumping in with the rehab guys unhampered with some short kicking.

Only KK and Neita not out there that I can notice.

I think they are off the mark with Jack... He's not treacle-slow for a start, he's not lightning quick either but... My main concern with him is that he tries to do too much. If he learns to give off the ball and set up teammates in better positions it will take his game to another level. The loss of the Captaincy may be his wake up call. A fit Jack if he learns his lessons will be a very valuable member of the team.

May was fine, did whole session

Obviously the club's nutritionists are trying something different this year.

Is his one dimension; toughness, ability to break open packs and get the ball, set tackling standards, have opposition watch out for him when he is needed to show captaincy in last quarters or to make other teammates around him walk taller? They are the dimensions I see.

Viney is credited with 3 turnovers, Salem had 7. You also neglected to say that Josh Wagner and Marty Hore had a total of 20 intercepts between them - 10 each. Keep digging and you'll pop up in a deserted Wuhan street shortly.

Can you edit your original post to say how you just completely made that up please.

Hannan, Smith, Petty and Chandler doing short sprint and agility work through the cones. Dunkley and Preuss lots of straight line sprints built for speed and endurance.

Harley now doing some kicking with Langdon as the rest of the group do full ground sprints.

Hannan running with great pace. They both look close

We're yet to see the best of Jack. Finally injury free, this may well be the year. With that said, improving his skills overhead and on his right side would add a few strings to his bow...

I find it interesting that Jack has become some sort of whipping boy. Others have suffered injuries and been given the luxury of not being questioned on everything they do on return. Jack had serious foot injuries, its going to impact. To call him a liability is just sensationalist to say the least. Jack was never particularly quick. Jack was never an amazing kick. Jack is a competitor, he has a drive that others lack he is fierce at the contest. Leadership may not be his strong suit, but i saw him lead unbelievably in out 2 finals wins coming off little prep and game time. Let 's just let him play and watch him go. Our team is better with Jack Viney in it.

What? Took it like a boss when nearly any other player would have been down for minutes.

Asked Max and May how they were tracking. “we’re back” ”we’re both back”